Liberal Democrats search for new leader

By Paul Majendie

LONDON (Reuters) - The Liberal Democrats begin a search on Tuesday for a new leader after the resignation of Menzies Campbell.

The former Olympic sprinter quit as head of the party late on Monday after his support slumped in opinion polls.

Favourites to succeed Campbell are home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg or environment spokesman Chris Huhne, who unsuccessfully contested the leadership last time around.

Campbell's abrupt exit capped a tumultuous two weeks in the country's politics.

Campbell departed amid party fears that he would have been an ineffective leader if Prime Minister Gordon Brown had decided to call an election two and a half years early.

Brown, enjoying a hefty opinion poll lead, contemplated calling a snap general election but changed his mind in the face of a surge of support for the Conservatives.

In his resignation letter, Campbell said: "It has become clear following the prime minister's decision not to hold an election, questions about leadership are getting in the way of further progress by the party.

"Accordingly, I now submit my resignation as leader with immediate effect."